Yes — the blood was the sign God told Israel to place on their doorways so He would 'pass over' their homes and the death angel would not strike their firstborn.
God's instruction was precise: strike the lamb's blood on the two side posts and the upper door post. He promised in Exodus 12:13 that when He saw the blood He would pass over those houses and the plague would not destroy them. Les Feldick adds that this placement also pictured the cross, and that believing families were secure by faith, not by fear.
Exodus 12:13 — This is the core promise that explains the purpose of the blood: God sees it and passes over the house.
Exodus 12:7 — This verse records God's specific command to place the blood on the two side posts and the upper door post.
In Exodus 12, before the final plague on Egypt, God gave Israel a specific command concerning the Passover lamb. Exodus 12:7 says, "And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it." The blood was not to be applied casually; it was to be placed exactly where God directed. In Exodus 12:12 God declares, "For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD." Then verse 13 gives the reason for the blood: "And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where you are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt." So the Bible's direct answer is that the blood on the doorposts was a visible token marking the house, and God's promise was tied to His seeing that blood. On that basis He would pass over and the firstborn would not be struck.
Les Feldick emphasizes that the blood was applied in a deliberate, precise way. He notes that Israel was to strike the blood on the two side posts and on the lintel, or upper door post, using a piece of hyssop which he compares to ragweed. He says the people of Israel did not understand at the time what God was doing, but God had the final picture in mind: the blood on those three parts of the doorway formed the outline of the cross. Les also stresses that God's protection did not depend on Israel's behavior. God simply said, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you." Because the blood was on the door, the death angel passed over that house. Les pictures the Jewish families inside their little huts, hearing the weeping and wailing in Egypt, yet totally safe behind the blood-marked door. He says they did not shake in fear because by faith they knew the blood had kept them secure.
God commanded the Passover lamb to be killed and its blood to be struck on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the house. Les Feldick describes how this was done with a piece of hyssop, which he compares to common ragweed. The blood was not just painted on the door in a general way; it was placed specifically on the doorposts and the lintel.
Les Feldick teaches that God was drawing the outline of the cross. He says that although no Jew in Egypt understood it at the time, the blood on the two side posts and the top lintel formed the shape of a cross. He is convinced that this was God's final picture in mind when He gave the instruction.
Les Feldick points out that the Israelites who had the blood applied to their doorposts did not stand in their huts trembling. They knew by faith that the blood had made them secure. Even though the death angel was passing through Egypt and the firstborn were being killed, those behind the blood-marked door had nothing to fear because they were covered.
God did not say He would pass over if Israel had been living sinlessly, or if they worshiped in a particular way, or if they behaved themselves. The one thing He says is, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you." Les Feldick underlines this phrase as the crucial point: the blood was the token, and God's seeing it was the basis for passing over.
Why God Led Israel the Long Way: The Red Sea & The Pillar of Fire
Hello and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
The Prescribed Placement: Two Side Posts and Lintel
Les explains that the blood was struck on the two side posts and the lintel with hyssop, and that this placement forms the outline of the cross.
Passover Security by Faith
Les stresses the promise, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you," and says the Jewish families knew by faith that the blood kept them secure all night.
No Fear of the Death Angel
Les contrasts the fear of Israel with their actual security: they did not quiver in their little huts because the blood was on the door.
The One Condition: The Blood
Les emphasizes that God does not say "if you behave yourselves" or "if you worship a certain way." The only condition is "When I see the blood."
God's Hidden Picture: The Cross
Les says no Jew understood it at the time, but God was drawing the outline of the cross through the side posts and the lintel.
The Blood as a Token
Les highlights the phrase "when I see the blood" in Exodus 12:13, noting that the blood on the doorpost was a token upon the house.
The Exodus Promise Read Aloud
Les reads Exodus 12:12-13, connecting the judgment on Egypt with God's promise to pass over every house where the blood is seen.
Exodus 12:7: And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
This is the direct instruction that tells Israel exactly where to apply the Passover blood.
Exodus 12:12: For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
This verse reveals the judgment that was coming on Egypt on the night of Passover.
Exodus 12:13: And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where you are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
This verse directly answers why the blood was on the doorposts: it was the token that caused God to pass over.
God specifically commanded that the blood be applied to the two side posts and the upper door post. Les Feldick teaches that this was not arbitrary; God was drawing the outline of the cross. The doorposts and lintel showed where the blood was to be seen.
No. Les Feldick says the Israelites of faith were not shaking in fear. They knew by faith that the blood was on the door and that they were secure. The blood guaranteed that the death angel would pass over their house.
No. Les Feldick emphasizes that God did not say, "if you behave yourselves" or "if you live sinlessly." The one stated condition is in Exodus 12:13: "When I see the blood, I will pass over you."
Watch the Teaching: Why God Led Israel the Long Way: The Red Sea & The Pillar of Fire